I am finishing a PhD in Rome and I have recently found a job in Scotland! My boyfriend has been living there already because he is doing a PhD as well, so I had decided I would have moved there once concluded with my studies and looked for a job. I’ve always like Great Britain, and Scotland in particular is very beautiful and also very welcoming. Well, it’s very cold and rainy out there, and this is very annoying to me, but I’ll get used to the weather at some point.

I am a Physicist and from now on I’ll be working as a Software Developer, building educational scientific games for school students. I am very happy because I really care about education and science communication, I have already been involved, on a voluntary basis, in some science popularization projects. I also love programming (though I’m not a computer scientist) so this opportunity will provide me with improved skills and I’ll learn lots of new things. Everything is perfect!

The only sad thing about this news is that my country does not offer many possibilities to young people who finish their university studies and would like to work. Italy is experiencing a heavy economic crisis and unemployment is rising. This is unfortunately the effect of decades of wrong political choices which did not care at all about culture (and we know the country has plenty of cultural resources!) and innovation. Creating a company like an innovative start-up is, for instance, very difficult. On the other hand, existing companies are not very willing to hire young people who just finished their degree or PhD because the work taxation is very high for them, so they prefer to offer short contracts of a few months with no future perspective.

This country has sadly often had selfish politicians who are only worried about their own personal interests (and some of them are or have been authentic criminals). The result is that many young people escape the country because they are tired of waiting for occasions which won’t arrive.

Spending some period of your life abroad is a great thing for everyone, you build interesting experiences, you meet new people and you familiarize with new cultures, learning lots of things. The problem with Italy is that not many people comes to live in the country and may Italians fly abroad instead. The situation is such that the most dynamic and skilled people tend to look for a life elsewhere, and this is a pity because Italy spent lots of money to make them study and then gives their talent to someone else.

I, for me, am very curious to see how the situation evolves. Maybe in the following years things will radically change the Italy will be able to live a “New Renaissance”, it will appraise its beauty and its history, which is filled with notable and interesting people. Maybe it will become again the country where it is great to go not only for tourism but also to discover new ideas and new cultural trends, as it was back then.

I will watch at history with great interest because I love my country, which will always be my country. I invite you all to watch things with me, and maybe, if you wish, spread the news about the huge differences between the beautiful and the ugly things about Italy. Maybe someone will hear you and will wake up, realizing that it is time to change the current situation.

Thank you Martina for your insights. It is difficult to hear stories of young people you can’t find work in Italy and must flee to other countries to have a career and real financial prospects. It is my sincere hope that soon, resources can be redirected to help and encourage young people to invest their talents, education and bright minds closer to home in order to resolve the ugly problems that currently afflict in Italy and the Italian people. Italy also has so much artistic wealth, beauty and holds a great fascination for foreigners. It would be a shame to have it deteriorate to the point that we loose our rich western cultural heritage, due to bad governing and ulterior motives of corrupt politicians. Like you I will be watching with great interest to see how the situation unfolds, because like you I am a fan of Italia.

Comments

Having family southern Italy, I am familiar with this problem. I sincerely hope in the coming years this situation changes, and these educated and enthusiastic youth can find work they love in their country which they love.

Ciao Stacy! I think it is important that people outside of Italy are made aware of these problems. It isn’t just all tiramasu and torta nel bel paese. There are some real problems that need to be addressed by the Italian government.